Driving toy having an electric drive motor

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a driving toy, especially for guided motor-racing circuits, comprising an electric driving motor that has two electric driving motor terminals for feeding an electric driving voltage. The driving toy is arranged such that a short-circuit device is provided in the driving toy and is electrically connected to the two electric driving motor terminals. The short-circuit device is designed such that the same optionally short-circuits the two electric driving motor terminals.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application a National Phase filing under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT/EP/2008/009283 which was filed Nov. 4, 2008, and claims priority to German Application No. DE 20 2007 017 801.8 filed Dec. 20, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a driving toy, in particular for track-guided car racing tracks, having an electric drive motor which has two electric drive motor connections for supplying an electric driving voltage.

2. Description of Related Art

In known track-guided driving toy car racetrack systems, a player moves driving toys with an electric drive motor or electric motor by means of a hand controller over a track with electrical conductors in order to supply electrical power to the electric drive motor. In this case, in analog systems by means of the hand controller, the driving voltage applied to the electrical conductors in the track for the electric drive motor is varied directly in order to influence the speed of the driving toy. In digital systems, a constant maximum driving voltage is applied to the electrical conductors of the track, and the hand controller is used to influence a rotation-speed controller for the electric drive motor in the driving toy, by digital data transmission to a decoder in the driving toy.

When the speed controller is released, for example before a curve, the two electrical conductors of the driving track are short-circuited in analog systems. This is done in the hand controller itself, with the two electrical conductors for one driving track being electrically connected to one another when the hand controller is in the neutral position. When the speed controller is now depressed slightly, then the short-circuit is removed and, instead of this, the driving voltage is once again applied to the rail, and the driving toy starts to move. The short-circuit after releasing the speed controller before a curve destroys the generator energy which is produced by the electric drive motor of the driving toy when it is freewheeling, and thus leads to a braking torque which is dependent on various parameters. Since, however, the actual driving track is always connected as an electrical resistance between the speed controller and the vehicle itself, the braking power or the effect of the brake is greatly reduced, or even becomes ineffective, as the track resistance or track length increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of improving the braking response of a driving toy of the abovementioned type. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a driving toy of the abovementioned type having the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the invention are described in the further claims.

The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a driving toy for track-guided car racing tracks comprising: an electric drive motor including two electric drive motor connections for supplying an electric driving voltage; and a short-circuiting device provided in the driving toy, electrically connected to the two electrical drive motor connections, the short-circuiting device designed such that it selectively electrically short-circuits the two electrical drive motor connections.

The short-circuiting device may comprise an electrical switch.

The driving toy may further include control electronics for the electrical drive motor comprising: a first and a second electrical control electronics connection, wherein the first electrical control electronics connection is connected to the first electrical drive motor connection, and the second electrical control electronics connection is connected to a second electrical drive motor connection; a first electrical short-circuiting device connection electrically connected between the first electrical control electronics connection and the first electrical drive motor connection; and a second electrical short-circuiting device connection electrically connected between the second electrical control electronics connection and the second electrical drive motor connection, such that the short-circuiting device and the electric drive motor are electrically connected in parallel with one another.

The control electronics may include a microprocessor. The control electronics are designed to operate the short-circuiting device short-circuiting device is designed to receive a control signal for selectively short-circuiting the electric motor connections. It may comprise a mechanical switch. It may include producing the short-circuit with a predetermined electrical resistance.

The control signal may a signal which is transmitted electrically, optically, or without the use of wires, including magnetic operation.

One electrical short-circuiting device connection is in each case connected directly to one electrical drive motor connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figure is for illustration purposes only and is not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an electrical diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made herein to FIG. 1 in which like numerals refer to like features of the invention.

In the case of a driving toy of the abovementioned type, the invention provides that a short-circuiting device is provided in the driving toy and is electrically connected to the two electrical drive motor connections, wherein the short-circuiting device is designed such that it selectively electrically short-circuits the two electrical drive motor connections.

This has the advantage that the electric drive motor is short-circuited directly at its electrical drive motor connections, and therefore essentially Without any electrical resistance, as a result of which electrical resistances which result in particular from the electrical supply lines to the electric drive motor are avoided, thus achieving a defined braking torque, which is at the same time maximized, in the electric drive motor by the electrical short-circuit. In addition, the braking effect by the short-circuit can now also be used in digital driving toys.

By way of example, the short-circuiting device comprises an electrical switch.

In one preferred embodiment, control electronics for the electrical drive motor are provided in the driving toy and have a first and a second electrical control electronics connection, wherein the first electrical control electronics connection is connected to a first electrical drive motor connection, and the second electrical control electronics connection is connected to a second electrical drive motor connection, wherein a first electrical short-circuiting device connection is electrically connected between the first electrical control electronics connection and the first electrical drive motor connection, and a second electrical short-circuiting device connection is electrically connected between the second electrical control electronics connection and the second electrical drive motor connection, such that the short-circuiting device and the electric drive motor are electrically connected in parallel with one another.

The control electronics expediently comprise a microprocessor.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the control electronics are designed such that they operate the short-circuiting device.

The short-circuiting device can be operated particularly easily if the short-circuiting device is designed to receive a control signal for selectively short-circuiting the electric motor connections. In this case, the control signal is a signal which is transmitted electrically, optically or without the use of wires, in particular an infrared signal or a radio signal.

In one exemplary embodiment, the short-circuiting device comprises a mechanical switch, in which case the mechanical switch can optionally be operated magnetically.

A particularly direct effect of the short-circuit with a maximum braking torque is achieved in that one electrical short-circuiting device connection is in each case connected directly to one electrical drive motor connection.

The short-circuiting device is expediently designed such that it produces a short-circuit with a predetermined electrical resistance.

The invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to the drawing, the single figure of which shows a schematic illustration of one preferred embodiment of a driving toy according to the invention.

The preferred embodiment of a driving toy 10 according to the invention as illustrated in the single figure comprises an electric drive motor 12 for driving the wheels 14 of the driving toy 10. The drive motor 12 is electrically connected via electrical lines 16 and sliding contacts 18, which are arranged on a lower face of the driving toy 10, to electrical conductors 20 of a driving track 22. Furthermore, the electrical conductors 20 of the driving track 22 are connected to a hand controller 24. The hand controller 24 influences the rotation speed of the electric drive motor 12, such that a player who is operating the hand controller 24 can drive the driving toy 10 at a greater or lesser speed over the track. Furthermore, control electronics 26 are provided in the driving toy 10, optionally in the form of a microcontroller, and are electrically connected between the lines 16 and the drive motor 12.

The electric drive motor 12 has a first drive motor connection 28 and a second drive motor connection 30. The control electronics 26 have a first control electronics connection 32 and a second control electronics connection 34.

According to the invention, a short-circuiting device 36 having a first short-circuiting device connection 38 and a second short-circuiting device connection 40 are provided in the driving toy 10. The first short-circuiting device connection 38 is electrically connected to the first drive motor connection 28 and to the first control electronics connection 32. The second short-circuiting device 40 is electrically connected to the second drive motor connection 30 and to the second control electronics connection 34. This results in the short-circuiting device 36 being connected in parallel with the drive motor 12 and selectively electrically short-circuiting the drive motor connections 28, 30, with this electrical short-circuit being produced physically close to the drive motor connections 28, 30, thus avoiding the electrical line resistances resulting from electrical lines between the short-circuiting device 36 and the drive motor connections 28, 30.

The not-inconsiderable electrical track resistance, which is a function of the track length, that is to say the electrical resistance of the electrical conductors 20 of the driving track 22, is therefore excluded, thus increasing the braking power. For this purpose, the electric motor 12 in the driving toy 10 is preferably short-circuited directly at its connecting terminals 28, 30 in the driving toy. For this purpose, the short-circuiting device 36 in the driving toy is in the form of an electrical or mechanical switch which is arranged directly adjacent to and electrically connected to the motor connecting terminals 28, 30. All of the variable track resistance is therefore excluded, and the braking response is therefore set independently of the track length, and is greatly enhanced.

When it is now intended to brake the driving toy before a curve, then the electrical switch 36 in the driving toy is operated by the player by radio, optically, magnetically or by cable, and the drive motor 12 is therefore short-circuited directly at its pole terminals 28, 30. By way of example, the switch 36 is operated by software by intelligence located in the driving toy 10, for example the microprocessor or the discrete electronics 26. Alternatively, this switch 36 in the driving toy 10 is also operated by an optical signal, for example an infrared signal, or by a radio signal. Alternatively, the drive motor 12 in the driving toy is also short-circuited via a mechanical switch, which is magnetically operated.

The invention can be used both in analog driving toys and in digital driving toys. All that is required for this purpose is an appropriate apparatus and/or software. The braking power or the braking torque when the switch 36 is closed can he set individually, or can be designed to be variable, horn the outside, by appropriate circuitry. By way of example, an electronic component with a predetermined electrical resistance is provided for this purpose, and is either connected in series with the short-circuiting device 36 between the electrical connections 38, 40, or is integrated in the short-circuiting device 36.

While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. A driving toy for track-guided car racing tracks comprising: an electric drive motor including two electric drive motor connections for supplying an electric driving voltage; a short-circuiting device provided in the driving toy, electrically connected to the two electrical drive motor connections, said short-circuiting device designed such that it selectively electrically short-circuits the two electrical drive motor connections.
 2. The driving toy of claim 1, wherein the short-circuiting device comprises an electrical switch.
 3. The driving toy of claim 1, including control electronics for the electrical drive motor comprising: a first and a second electrical control electronics connection, wherein the first electrical control electronics connection is connected to the first electrical drive motor connection, and the second electrical control electronics connection is connected to a second electrical drive motor connection; a first electrical short-circuiting device connection electrically connected between the first electrical control electronics connection and the first electrical drive motor connection; and a second electrical short-circuiting device connection electrically connected between the second electrical control electronics connection and the second electrical drive motor connection, such that the short-circuiting device and the electric drive motor are electrically connected in parallel with one another.
 4. The driving toy of claim 3, wherein the control electronics comprise a microprocessor.
 5. The driving toy of claim 3, including having the control electronics operate the short-circuiting device.
 6. The driving toy of claim 1 including having the short-circuiting device designed to receive a control signal for selectively short-circuiting the electric motor connections.
 7. The driving toy of claim 6, wherein the control signal includes a signal which is transmitted electrically, optically, or without the use of wires.
 8. The driving toy of claim 1 wherein the short-circuiting device comprises a mechanical switch.
 9. The driving toy of claim 8, wherein the mechanical switch is operated magnetically.
 10. The driving toy of claim 1 wherein one electrical short-circuiting device connection is in each case connected directly to one electrical drive motor connection.
 11. The driving toy of claim 1 wherein the short-circuiting device includes producing the short-circuit with a predetermined electrical resistance.
 12. The driving toy of claim 2, including control electronics for the electrical drive motor comprising: a first and a second electrical connection, wherein the first electrical control electronics connection is connected to the first electrical drive motor connection, and the second electrical control electronics connection is connected to a second electrical drive motor connection; a first electrical short-circuiting device connection electrically connected between the first electrical control electronics connection and the first electrical drive motor connection; and a second electrical short-circuiting device connection electrically connected between the second electrical control electronics connection and the second electrical drive motor connection, such that the short-circuiting device and the electric drive motor are electrically connected in parallel with one another.
 13. The driving toy of claim 5 including having the short-circuiting device designed to receive a control signal for selectively short-circuiting the electric motor connections.
 14. The driving toy of claim 3 wherein the short-circuiting device comprises a mechanical switch.
 15. The driving toy of claim 5 wherein the short-circuiting device comprises a mechanical switch.
 16. The driving toy of claim 14, wherein the mechanical switch is operated magnetically.
 17. The driving toy of claim 3 wherein one electrical short-circuiting device connection is in each case connected directly to one electrical drive motor connection.
 18. The driving toy of claim 3 wherein the short-circuiting device includes producing the short-circuit with a predetermined electrical resistance.
 19. The driving toy of claim 5 wherein the short-circuiting device includes producing the short-circuit with a predetermined electrical resistance. 